The result enabled Ventura County (7-3-4) to clinch second place in the Southwest Division, despite finishing the season on a four-match winless streak.

The Fusion announced after the game that it will host the Western Conference playoffs next weekend for the second straight season. The Fresno Fuego, Victoria Highlanders and Portland Timbers U-23s will join the Fusion for a two-day, four-team tournament July 27-28.

The job may have gotten done, but not without some tension.

After a scoreless first half, Ybarra's halftime "speech" threatened to peel the paint off the locker room walls.

"We got him to his boiling point," attacker Kennedy Chongo said.

"He lit a fire under us," captain Dylan Riley said.

Ybarra explained that he had challenged his team by showing "some of that Ybarra passion and pride."

"I was firm with them at halftime," Ybarra said. "I didn't think they understood where they were. In a playoff atmosphere, you need to be sharp, focused."

The third-place Misioneros (6-4-3) needed a win to put itself in position to steal the playoff place. They arrived with confidence, having handled the Fusion its worst PDL loss of the season, 3-0, on its last visit to Ventura on June 15.

"They started the game pressing us really high," Riley said. "That gave them some momentum. … They were coming at us."

Chongo nearly capitalized on the break in the seventh minute, beating a defender in the air and nearly breaking through on goal. Four minutes later, attacker Anthony Salciccia turned in the penalty area and fired over the net.

Besides those chances, and two created by Misioneros winger Alberto Garcia, the first half was a series of fouls and cautions. The two teams combined for eight yellow cards, including five shown to Fusion players.

"We didn't play for the tie," Riley said. "But we knew, in the back of our heads, that a tie would see us through."

The Fusion played better after the break. Johnny Lopez's volley on the break forced a leaping save from goalkeeper Sheldon Steenhuis.

Substitute James Kiffe gave the Fusion life going forward, beating a defender and floating a cross that Steenhuis just punched away in the 89th minute.

"I'm glad to see James is back," Ybarra said. "He's going to create chances for us."

Perhaps the brightest aspect of the match was how well the Fusion played defensively in front of goalkeeper Brendan Roslund. The Misioneros were perhaps even more toothless going forward than Ventura County.

"It's been tough because it's been a new lineup every week," Riley said. "It's been tough to get some continuinty. But that's why you have a big squad.

"We knew they had to score. We had to be solid defensively."

The full-time whistle was more of an exhale than a shout from the Fusion, although Ybarra was happy enough to optimistically begin preparing for training this week.